The Notes Between Us

The school hallway buzzed with the usual chatter and clamor of students moving between classes. Xia Calderon tried to keep her balance, arms piled high with books, as she went through the crowd toward her locker. Then she spotted him.

Isaac Daiz, her school crush. Leaning against the window, phone in hand, he looked as cool as ever, his laid-back vibe somehow making everything around him seem quieter. She'd admired him from afar for ages, never daring to do more than sneak a quick look as she walked by.

Caught up in thoughts of him, she barely noticed when her grip slipped—and just like that, her books crashed to the floor.

"Hey. Pay attention next time."

The voice was familiar, low and calm. She looked up, and there he was—Isaac himself, crouching down, holding one of her books out to her.

"Sorry" Xia mumbled.

"You do this a lot, you know," he said, his tone blunt as ever. "Dropping your books and nearly tripping over your own two left feet. Do you even pay attention?"

She could feel her cheeks heat up, embarrassment flooding in as she scrambled to collect her scattered books. His teasing felt like a mix of annoyance and amusement, but it only made her heart race faster. Did he really notice her that much?

"R-right— I-I guess I'm pretty clumsy—" she stammered, scrambling to gather her books.

"More like a walking disaster," he replied without missing a beat, his expression serious. He never seemed to joke around, and today was no different. "It's a wonder you made it this far without hurting yourself."

His words stung, but there was an odd comfort in his honesty. She couldn't help but feel a strange mix of embarrassment and admiration. He noticed her, even if it was for all the wrong reasons.

"Right, I'm sorry—" she mumbled, hurrying toward her locker to escape the moment.

Isaac watched her fumble with the lock, his curiosity piqued. He took a step closer, leaning over her shoulder to glimpse the inside of her locker.

Xia had it organized neatly; it was surprisingly tidy. Most of the space was filled with books, and the back door was covered in colorful sticky notes, each one filled with doodles or reminders. A few Polaroid pictures of her smiling with friends added a personal touch. It was a little too girly, maybe, but it felt like a reflection of who she was—bright and full of life.

For a moment, he was silent, taking it all in. "You really are a weirdo, aren't you?" he commented, his trademark bluntness still intact.

"H-Huh— Isaac? I-I didn't notice you there—" Xia stuttered, caught off guard.

He raised an eyebrow, leaning lazily against the lockers, his gaze flicking back to her as he crossed his arms.

"What? Too busy gawking at Polaroid pictures of yourself to notice? That's pretty narcissistic."

"I-I'm not," she mumbled, feeling her face heat up under his scrutiny.

His smirk widened, unable to hide his amusement. He watched as she flushed, clearly embarrassed.

"You're even more of a weirdo than I thought you'd be. And I already thought you were a total nutcase."

She shot him a glare, a mix of irritation and embarrassment.

"I'm not a weirdo," she protested, but it came out more like a whisper.

He chuckled darkly, clearly entertained by her flustered demeanor. "You know, you don't have to defend yourself. I already think you're a complete weirdo. So why bother denying it?"